Jernkvist, Lars-Olof

Abstract [en]

A mixed mode I/II fracture criterion applicable to cracks oriented both along and across the fibres in wood is derived within the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics. The use of a common fracture criterion for both types of cracks is made possible by the fact that cracks in wood generally propagate along the fibres, irrespective of both the original crack orientation and the degree of mode mixity. The derived criterion is simple, and contains a single material dependent fracture parameter. The applicability of the fracture criterion to spruce (Picea abies) is experimentally validated in part two of the paper